Winners Announced from 2018 MADD TN Night of Remembrance and Awards Ceremony

The 2018 MADD Tennessee Statewide Night of Remembrance and Awards Ceremony moved to a new venue this year at the Nashville Airport Marriott. Over 400 law enforcement personnel, victims/survivors, community partners, and volunteers were in attendance for the event to remember those lost to impaired driving and honor those working hard to prevent further heartache from this 100% preventable crime.

The night began with a greeting by MADD Tennessee State Program Director, Phaedra Marriott-Olsen, as she welcomed the Tennessee State Highway Patrol Honor Guard to present the colors. Singer, Annie Clements of Tullahoma, Tennessee, sang the National Anthem.

THP Honor Guard

Annie Clements

Mel Taylor

Current MADD Tennessee State Advisory Board Chair, Mel Taylor, then began the Candlelight Vigil portion of the event. She introduced Julie Strike, a survivor of a drunk driving crash, to light the first candle to honor the survivors of impaired driving crashes. Next, was Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President, who lost her precious son, Dustin, to light the second candle in remembrance of those whose lives were lost due to an impaired driving crash. Finally, came Jim Camp, MADD Tennessee State Advisory Board Chair-Elect to light the third candle to assert hope for the future that we will have No More Victims.

Julie Strike

Colleen Sheehey-Church

Jim Camp

As the audience stood to light their own candles, they watched a touching on-screen presentation showing Tennessee victims of impaired driving.

Summer Cottrell

When the vigil concluded, Steve Dillard, East Tennessee Law Enforcement Liaison, came to offer the Benediction before dinner began. Special Guest, Summer Cottrell, who lost her father, Bobby, in an impaired driving crash, and had written a song called “When We Grow Cold” in his honor, gave a special performance of the song during dinner.

Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD National President

After dinner, co-emcee and keynote speaker, MADD National President, Colleen Sheehey-Church shared the story of her son, Dustin, who drowned when the car he was riding in with an underage drunk and drugged driver plunged into the river. He was sober, but unable to escape. She spoke of MADD’s mission and our Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving which includes support for high visibility law enforcement. She also spoke of the almost 11,000 lives lost in each of the past two years to drunk driving and of a need for the continued commitment of all of us to diligently work toward our goal for a future of No More Victims.

Her address was followed by a Fallen Officer Tribute. In 2018, we lost one officer in Tennessee who was killed in the line of duty. Sergeant Daniel Scott Baker of the Dickson County Sheriff’s Office, End of Watch, May 30th 2018, was honored with an empty seat left at the table in the center of the room. The table was draped and lit in blue, as everyone in the room, including his fellow brothers and sisters in blue, paused for a moment of silence.

Fallen Officer Table

Co-emcees, Sgt. Vincent Turocy of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and MADD Tennessee State Advisory Board Law Enforcement Recognition Program Chair, and Trooper Kenneth White of the Tennessee Highway Patrol and MADD Tennessee State Advisory Board member, took the stage for the Awards Ceremony portion of our event.

Sgt. Vincent Turocy

Trooper Kenneth White

They began by recognizing the Top DUI Enforcers, naming a Top Trooper, Top Officer, and Top Deputy for each region. The Top DUI Enforcers made the most DUI arrests among their peers in 2017 while maintaining a conviction rate of at least 75%.

In East Tennessee, the Top DUI Enforcer for a Highway Patrol was awarded to Trooper James Raines of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Knoxville District, for removing 101 impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways. The Top DUI Enforcer for a Sheriff’s Department was awarded to Deputy Jonathan Stout of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office for removing 37 impaired drivers. The Top DUI Enforcer for a Police Department was awarded to Officer Jeffrey Buckner of the Chattanooga Police Department for removing 145 impaired drivers.

Trooper James Raines

Deputy Jonathon Stout

Officer Jeffrey Buckner

In West Tennessee, the Top DUI Enforcer for a Highway Patrol was awarded to Sergeant Brandon Rogers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Memphis District, for removing 102 impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways. The Top DUI Enforcer for a Sheriff’s Department was awarded to Sergeant Chris Wilkerson of the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office for removing 29 impaired drivers. The Top DUI Enforcer for a Police Department was awarded to Officer Laneeze Stepney of the Memphis Police Department for removing 81 impaired drivers.

Sgt. Brandon Rogers

Officer Laneeze Stepney

In Middle Tennessee, the Top DUI Enforcer for a Highway Patrol was awarded to Trooper Chad Staggs of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Lawrenceburg District, for removing 131 impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways. The Top DUI Enforcer for a Sheriff’s Department was awarded to Deputy William Travis of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office for removing 78 impaired drivers. The Top DUI Enforcer for a Police Department was awarded to Officer Paul Stein of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for removing 188 impaired drivers.

Trooper Chad Staggs

Deputy William Travis

Officer Paul Stein

The Statewide DUI Enforcer of the Year honor was given to Officer Paul Stein of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department for removing the most impaired drivers of any Officer, Deputy, or Trooper in the state for 2017. He received an additional prize of four passes to a performance at the Grand Ole Opry in 2019 along with four backstage tour passes.

Officer Paul Stein named Statewide DUI Enforcer of the Year

Next, Boating Under the Influence Enforcement Awards were bestowed on officers whom had removed 10 or more impaired boaters from Tennessee waterways in 2017 while maintaining at least a 75% conviction rate. Wildlife Officers Greg Julian and Josh Landrum, each of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency were honored with this award. In addition to a plaque, the officers received a pin, placed on their uniform by impaired boating victim, Mandy Larson, whose 21-year-old son, Nick Willhoit, was killed in an impaired boating crash on July 31, 2016.

Officer Greg Julian pinned by Mandy Larson

The Bronze Driving Under the Influence Award was given to Troopers, Officers, and Deputies whom had removed between 25 and 49 impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways in 2017 while maintaining a minimum 75% conviction rate. All DUI Enforcement Award winners received a plaque and a pin for his or her uniform. The Bronze DUI Enforcement Award winners were called to the stage in three groups. The first group included the following:

Trooper

Rex

Bailey

Fall Branch THP

Sergeant

Wesley

Bosheers

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Anthony

Bull

Fall Branch THP

Lieutenant

William

Butler II

Memphis THP

Officer

Darren

Carden

Knoxville Police Department

Sergeant

Caleb

Cooper

Jackson THP

Trooper

Ronald

Davis

Jackson THP

Trooper

Garrett

Flannery

Jackson THP

Trooper

Robert

Franks

Lawrenceburg THP

Investigator

Gary

Frisbee

Chattanooga Police Department

Sergeant

John

Grinder

Nashville THP

Officer

William

Hamblen

Metro Nashville Police Department

Officer

JaJuan

Hamilton

Knoxville Police Department

Trooper

Christopher

Judd

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Matthew

Kiddy

Jackson THP

Sergeant

Michael

Kilpatrick

Lawrenceburg THP

Officer

Clinton

Langham

Memphis Police Department

Sergeant

Scott

Lewis

Chattanooga THP

Sergeant

Michael

Lockard

Memphis THP

Trooper

Michael

Loftis

Cookeville THP

Trooper

Cody

Martin

Fall Branch THP

Trooper

Joshua

McNeal

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Tyler

Milam

Jackson THP

Investigator

Jeffery

Miller

Chattanooga Police Department

Officer

Marvin

Perez

Chattanooga Police Department

Trooper

Andrew

Perez

Nashville THP

Sergeant

Alex

Perry

Fall Branch THP

Trooper

Brion

Posey

Chattanooga THP

Officer

Lesley

Pressley

Knoxville Police Department

Trooper

Brian

Pulley

Jackson THP

Trooper

Ethan

Purcell

Lawrenceburg THP

Sergeant

Chris

Roark

Belle Meade Police Department

Lieutenant

David

Roark

Chattanooga THP

Trooper

Joe

Taylor

Fall Branch THP

Trooper

Daniel

Thompson

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Thomas

Thompson

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Andrew

Troxel

Nashville THP

Trooper

Nathan

Voyles

Lawrenceburg THP

Sergeant

Chris

Wilkerson

Hardeman County Sheriff Department

Pinning the Bronze pin on these recipients were victims, Trooper Kenneth White, who lost both his mother, Anna White, and his brother, Billy, in separate DUI crashes and Sherri Hoskins, whose 17-year-old daughter Afton was killed on April 18, 2002, by a repeat drunk and drugged offender who had only been out of jail for two hours.

Sherri Hoskins pins Bronze award winners

Group 1 Bronze DUI Enforcement Winners

The second group included the following Bronze DUI Enforcement Award Winners:

Officer

Rudy

Basaldua

Metro Nashville Police Department

Officer

Kevin

Breeding

Metro Nashville Police Department

Corporal

Keith

Bunch

Jefferson City Police Department

Officer

Edward

Draves

Metro Nashville Police Department

Trooper

James

Dyer

Memphis THP

Officer

Sandra

Fly

Metro Nashville Police Department

Trooper

William

Goode

Fall Branch THP

Trooper

David

Hill

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Colby

Huff

Cookeville THP

Officer

Chad

Mahoney

Metro Nashville Police Department

Officer

Anthony

Morris

Memphis Police Department

Trooper

Corey

Poteet

Chattanooga THP

Officer

Jeffrey

Quirin

University of Tennessee Police Department

Trooper

Michael

Robertson

Cookeville THP

Trooper

Jeremy

Shelton

Fall Branch THP

Trooper

Al

Seitner

Cookeville THP

Trooper

Andrew

Simunic

Nashville THP

Lieutenant

Dwayne

Stanford

Jackson THP

Lieutenant

Joe

Terry

Memphis THP

Officer

Katie

Ward

Memphis Police Department

Trooper

Stacy

Wigand

Fall Branch THP

Sergeant

Ernest

Young

Nashville THP

Pinning these award winners were Crissie McCoy and Mike Moore. Crissie lost her 19-year-old daughter, MaCala Cochran, on December 13, 2015, when she was hit head-on by a driver who was high on methamphetamines. Mike was MaCala’s high school principal and athletic director.

Group 2 Bronze DUI Enforcement Winners

The third group of Bronze DUI Enforcement Award recipients included:

Trooper

Devin

Bargatze

Nashville THP

Deputy

Cody

Brogan

Sumner County Sheriff’s Office

Trooper

Dustin

Cotton

Lawrenceburg THP

Sergeant

Patrick

Dilday

Memphis THP

Trooper

Randy

Euler

Chattanooga THP

Trooper

Ryan

Fletcher

Knoxville THP

Trooper

Terry

Gann

Chattanooga THP

Trooper

Khalat

Ghazi

Chattanooga THP

Trooper

Mariah

Harden

Jackson THP

Officer

Larry

Holladay

LaVergne Police Department

Trooper

Robert

Huitt

Lawrenceburg THP

Trooper

Brandon

Jackson

Cookeville THP

Officer

Dwight

Mann

Memphis Police Department

Trooper

Brandon

Myers

Nashville THP

Trooper

Joey

Olivas

Nashville THP

Officer

Kelvin

Payne

Memphis Police Department

Trooper

William

Satterfield

Knoxville THP

Trooper

Donald

Seiber

Chattanooga THP

Officer

Corey

Smith

Memphis Police Department

Deputy

Jonathan

Stout

Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office

Trooper

Ronnie

Swafford

Chattanooga THP

Trooper

Clinton

Tudors

Chattanooga THP

Officer

William

Whitworth

Metro Nashville Police Department

Sergeant

Robert

Woody

Knoxville THP

Trooper

Frank

Yates-Matoy

Knoxville THP

Anne Tuck pins Bronze DUI Enforcement winners

Pinning the Bronze pin on the final group of Bronze DUI Enforcement Award recipients were Anne Tuck and her son, Josh Richardson. Anne’s daughter and Josh’s sister, Ashley “Brooke” Jones was killed on January 9, 2015, when a drunk driver with a BAC of .18 hit her head-on.

Pinning the Silver DUI Enforcement Award recipients were victims Vicki Kirk and Sherita Bussey. Vicki’s 21-year-old daughter, Angie, was killed on May 28, 2017, when she was hit by a drunk driver on her way to eat donuts with her dad. Sherita’s 18-year-old daughter, Samia Lucas, was killed on October 23, 2016, along with close friend, Josh, when they were out celebrating his 18th birthday together.

Vicki Kirk pinning Silver winners

Silver DUI Enforcement Winners

Sherita Bussey pinning Silver winners

The MADD TN Gold DUI Enforcement Award was given to Troopers, Officers, and Deputies whom had removed 100-199 impaired drivers from Tennessee roadways in 2017 while maintaining a minimum 75% conviction rate. They are as follows:

Sergeant

Craig

Amiable

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

179

Investigator

Jeffery

Buckner

Chattanooga Police Department

145

Officer

Bradley

Nave

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

134

Trooper

Barry

Qualls

Lawrenceburg THP

112

Trooper

James

Raines

Knoxville THP

101

Sergeant

Brandon

Rogers

Memphis THP

102

Trooper

Chad

Staggs

Lawrenceburg THP

131

Officer

Paul

Stein

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department

188

Trooper

Kenneth

White

Nashville THP

106

Pinning the Gold DUI Enforcement winners were Dineen Cottrell and her daughter, Summer. Dineen and her husband, Bobby, were hit by a drugged repeat offender on October 15, 2016, while walking to a neighbor’s yard sale. Bobby was killed and Dineen spent months in a hospital fighting to survive a traumatic brain injury. Their teenage daughter Summer, became her mother’s caretaker and biggest supporter.

The next portion of our ceremony honored our Specialty Award Winners. Each of these award winners was nominated for his or her award through an application process and chosen for his or her outstanding commitment to the elements of MADD’s mission.

The first award was presented for the Tennessee Excellence Award. This award was given to a prosecutor for outstanding commitment to enforcing DUI law and for supporting local volunteers’ victim-advocacy efforts in 2018. The 2018 Statewide Tennessee Excellence Award was presented to General Darrell Julian of the 31st Judicial District.

The MADD Tennessee Power of Youth Award was given to a student that had excelled in his or her efforts to prevent underage drinking. The 2018 Statewide Power of Youth Award was presented to Summer Knowles of Faith Heritage Christian Academy.

Summer Knowles 2018 Power of Youth Award Winner

The Power of Community Award was presented to an organization that had excelled in their efforts to prevent underage drinking. The 2018 East Tennessee Power of Community Award was presented to Appalachian Promise. The 2018 Middle Tennessee Power of Community Award was given to Sgt. Chuck Williams for his service with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office. The 2018 West Tennessee Power of Community Award was awarded to Brenda Jones of the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.

Appalachian Promise CEO, Sherri Hoskins accepts the 2018 East Tennessee Power of Community Award

Brenda Jones, Tennessee Highway Safety Office, 2018 West Tennessee Power of Community Award

The Tennessee Golden Achievement Award was awarded to the MADD Volunteer in each region who had excelled in promoting the mission of MADD to eliminate drunk driving, fight drugged driving, prevent underage drinking, and support the victims of these crimes. It is the highest level award that can be given to a MADD Tennessee volunteer. The 2018 East Tennessee Golden Achievement Award was presented to Norris Skelley. The 2018 Middle Tennessee Golden Achievement Award was given to Tanya Read. The 2018 West Tennessee Golden Achievement Award was awarded to Dawn Kruse.

Norris Skelley, 2018 East Tennessee Golden Achievement Award

Tanya Read, 2018 Middle Ttennessee Golden Achievement Award

Dawn Kruse, 2018 West Tennessee Golden Achievement Award

This was the first year for MADD Tennessee to present a First Responders Award. The award was given for a first responder who excelled in exhibiting compassion or assistance to impaired driving victims in the immediate aftermath of a crash and/or in continued contact afterwards. MADD Tennessee was proud to present these first ever awards to Sgt. Samuel Henard of the Knoxville Police Department for the 2018 East Tennessee First Responders Award and to Paramedic Tim Davis from Sumner County Emergency Medical Services for the 2018 Middle Tennessee First Responders Award.

The Outstanding Department Award was given to a department, agency, or section that excelled in exhibiting compassion to impaired driving victims, partnering with youth on underage drinking prevention, or taking a proactive approach by implementing programs or enforcement campaigns to reduce DUI injuries and fatalities in their jurisdiction in 2018.

The 2018 Middle Tennessee Outstanding Department Award was presented to the Clarksville Police Department. In addition, two winners were selected this year for the 2018 Statewide Outstanding Department Award. They were the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Ignition Interlock Program Unit and the Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s Law Enforcement Division.

The Outstanding Service Award is presented to an officer or supervisor that excelled in exhibiting compassion to impaired driving victims, partnering with youth on underage drinking prevention, or taking a proactive approach by implementing programs or enforcement campaigns to reduce DUI injuries and fatalities in their jurisdiction in 2018.

The 2018 East Tennessee Outstanding Service Award was given to Sgt. Donny Huskey of the Knoxville Police Department. The 2018 Middle Tennessee Outstanding Service Award was presented to Patrolmen Jeremy Mireles of the Shelbyville Police Department. The 2018 West Tennessee Outstanding Service Award winner was Sgt. Kevin Sathongnhoth of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

The 2018 Director’s Choice Award was given to Mel Taylor who has served as the MADD Tennessee State Advisory Board Chair for the past four years and was retiring from her position on December 31, 2018.

The 2018 MADD Employee of the Year Award was presented to Kelly Hennessy-Pierce, MADD Tennessee State Program Manager.

Kelly Hennessy-Pierce 2018 MADD Tennessee Employee of the Year

Congratulations to all the 2018 Award Winners from the MADD Tennessee Statewide Night of Remembrance and Awards Ceremony! MADD Tennessee is proud to partner with each of you to save lives in Tennessee and support the victims of these tragic crimes.